Shoppers set to spend record £200m in Black Friday discount bonanza

Internet shoppers are set to splash a Black Friday record of £200million, triggering a Christmas shopping rush as major retailers reduce prices by up to 70 per cent.

Shoppers are expected to splash out a record £200m on Black Friday (Pic: AP)

The discount day has crossed the Atlantic after starting when US retailers cut prices the day after Thanksgiving.

And with the Black Friday trend now becoming established here, British internet shopping spending could increase by ten per cent.

Amazon said 1,000 items would have up to 67 per cent off, including the Kindle Fire, signed One Direction albums, PlayStation 3 Console Bundles, Jamie Oliver books, Men In Black three-DVD Blu-ray box sets and Barbie’s California Dream House.

Apple also announced a Black Friday sale and is expected to slash ten per cent off iPads, iPods and MacBook laptops.

John Lewis is poised to cut its prices as a result.

American Express cardholders will also cash in – with £25 cashback on a £50 spend at one of 405 stores in the West End this weekend. Cardholders must register online first.

An online record is expected as November sales are typically 12 per cent higher than during summer and the Centre for Retail Research (CRR) forecast a further ten per cent increase today, pushing Black Friday sales to around £193million.

Professor Joshua Bamfield, director of the CRR, said: ‘Our consumer research shows most families have started thinking about Christmas this week.’